Paper Clutter Cures

Paper is the number one culprit of clutter; it piles up very quickly. Having good systems in place is vital. Here are some paper pitfalls with solutions on how to keep them organized.

Pending Papers

Where do you put important papers that must be remembered? A prominent (and organized) bulletin board is a good visual solution. Another option is to fearlessly file them! If you want assurance that you will remember where they are, set a reminder on your phone before an event with the file location of the papers or tickets.

Magazines, Newspapers & Catalogs

Do you have a perpetual reading wishlist? How much do you actually get to? Set boundaries on what stays. Saving only the current month or quarter will help keep reading material manageable and current.

Sticky Notes

Do you have random sticky notes flying around? They can be an annoying source of clutter. Minimize their use by working from a list. Keep a notepad handy if you like to write down tasks. Also try working with Notes on your smartphone to eliminate the papers.

Tax Documents

Because of the quarantine, tax time is still looming. This year there is no excuse for not having the time to get tax documents in order. Having all tax-related papers organized helps the process immensely. If it was a struggle getting things organized this year, get systems in place now for next year while you can!

Kids School and Artwork

Kids accumulate an abundance of paper and artwork. Create a separate file for each child every school year. Add samples of their work throughout the year. At the end of the school year, eliminate the excess saving only the most important items. Also, consider saving digitally. Remember, if you keep too much, you can’t find what’s important.

(This famous portrait of the Mona Lisa was painted by Brett Friel :)

Mail

Mail is a never ending stream of incoming clutter, both physically and digitally (if you include email). Having a good system for processing mail starts with a trash can/recycle bin nearby, then a place to put the mail (file folders work best). Create folders for the incoming paper (bills/invitations, etc…). It’s easier to find things in a file than in a pile!

Monica Friel is president and founder of Chaos to Order. Monica manages and trains a staff of professional organizers who specialize in everything from household clutter to corporate chaos. She also represents brands and speaks publicly as an expert in the field of organizing.
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